Many European vacationers plan their activities and accommodations with the​ assumption that everything else will be "like America." if​ so,​ think again! Just as​ Europe and the​ US are different in​ landscape,​ weather,​ and history,​ they are also very different culturally. Europeans and Americans have different ideas about manners,​ time,​ personal space,​ personal property maintenance,​ and language.

So for anyone planning a​ vacation to​ Europe,​ here are a​ few "cross cultural conflict" areas that Americans traveling in​ Europe often encounter. Making yourself aware of​ these differences can help you​ have a​ fun,​ enjoyable,​ and even educational European vacation that is​ free of​ cultural misunderstandings!

American standards of​ living are very high. We're used to​ king size beds and bathrooms that can accommodate several people at​ a​ time.

But unless you're staying in​ a​ massive French chateau or​ Italian villa,​ be prepared for spaces to​ be smaller than you're used to. Bedrooms and bathrooms will be more compact,​ as​ will bed sizes. Single and double beds alike will be narrower. Kitchens won't be able to​ accommodate your entire family!

A common misperception of​ Europeans is​ that they are "rude." of​ course,​ they think the​ same thing about us!

Remember when you're traveling in​ Europe that rudeness is​ largely a​ cultural perception. Someone who seems blunt and nosey may be expressing friendship and concern for your well-being. a​ waiter who tells you​ what to​ order may be trying to​ help,​ since you​ are unfamiliar with the​ language. Differences in​ "personal space" mean that someone who cuts in​ front of​ you​ may not even understand that you​ were in​ line!

I often hear complaints,​ especially from those who rent a​ villa or​ apartment,​ about the​ quality of​ the​ furnishings and amenities in​ Europe. I'd be a​ millionaire if​ I had a​ dime for every time I heard someone say "The furniture was old!" or​ "The bathroom pipes need to​ be replaced."

But think of​ anyone who grew up during the​ depression. My grandfather kept rows of​ old coffee cans filled with spare nails and bits of​ wire. He sat in​ the​ same chair every night until he died. Nothing was wasted,​ and nothing was thrown away if​ it​ could be fixed.

In the​ same way that you​ or​ I would resent a​ French tourist who expected everyone in​ the​ US to​ speak French,​ Europeans are often annoyed by Americans who have this mentality.

While you​ probably can't learn a​ new language before your vacation,​ you​ can learn some helpful phrases. This is​ considered courteous,​ and is​ guaranteed to​ get more friendly responses. When you​ try to​ use their language,​ Italians or​ French who might have feigned ignorance will usually help you​ with your pronunciation-- and then converse with you​ in​ English!

The Right Attitude

Lastly,​ remember that the​ standards and the​ customs you​ find while traveling in​ Europe are not wrong. They're just different. if​ you​ travel with the​ right attitude,​ you​ will have a​ richer,​ more authentic,​ and even eye-opening experience. Who knows? Your European vacation may change the​ way you​ see the​ world.